The Ultimate Toast & Bubbly Station

My favorite outdoor dinner party kickoff

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression. So it stands to reason that how you open a dinner party - what your guests see, eat, and drink as they walk in, and how those things make them feel - is the part of the evening that matters most.

There are a few elements which make for a successful opener. First, make it a showstopper - something impressive that shows you really put in effort. This makes your guests feel valued. Second, it can be fancy, but never too formal. You want your guests to feel at ease. And third, make it interactive. This gives your guests a feeling of ownership in the experience, casting them as characters in the evening, as opposed to attendees.

Nothing hits those elements and makes for a top notch first impression like this toast and bubbles station. It’s the perfect playful, low-key luxe opener. It also allows you to serve a large group and - because everyone is making their own toasts and pouring their own bubbles - finish setting the table and prepping the rest of the meal as your guests settle in.